Higher alkyl borates and silicates and process for preparing same



lili ltisll Patented Sept. 8, 1938 y omrao STATE No Drawing.

This invention relates to new esters of borlc and silicic acid and more particularly raters to long chain alkyl esters ofsuch acids and processes ior their production.f I

It is an object of this invention to produce' esters of highmolecular weight containing boron or silicon. A further object is to prcduceesters of boric and silicic acid containing a plurality of dissimilar hydrocarbon groups. A still further object is to obtain new compounds which are of particular value as plasticizers, high pressure lubricants, dispersing agents, etc. Additional objects will become apparent from a consideration of the following specification and claims.

These objects are attained according to the herein described invention which comprises es terifying boric or silicic acid with alkyl alcohols containing from 8 to 14 carbon atoms. In a more restricted sense this invention is directed to the Triodecyl bowie-14 parts by weight of boron oxide and 223 parts by weight of dodecyl alcohol were heated 3 hours at 180 C. with carbon dioxide bubbling through in order to remove the water. The product was then vacuum distilled at 185 C. and 23 m n. and 37 g. or product was removed. The ester analyzed 1.2% boron (calculated 1.9%).

Example 2 Tetradodecyl oflho-silicata-238 parts' by weight of dodecyl alcohol and 57 parts by weight of silicon tetrachloride were slowly mixed together at room temperature. Hydrogen chloride was evolved freely. After standing .5 minutes the reaction mixture was warmed on a steam bath under vacuum for an hour. The reaction product was then heated to 300 C. at 24 mm. to remove any volatile material and 194 parts by weight of ester was isolated. On standing. a

precipitate settled from the liquid which was filtered oil. The liquid was analyzed for silicon 1 the fraction which distilled at 165-158 C.

parts by weight of coconut alcohol and 25 parts S, PATENT, OFFICE; Y aossm it? assai ant-assessments? George Dewitt Gravu, Wilmington, and James q v Herbert Werntz, Marshallton, DcL, assignors to p w l E. L du Pont de Nemonrs & Company, Wilmlngton, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application December 11, 1934, 7 Serial No. ,976

2': Claims. (01. 260-98) Example 3 Tetmdodecyl ortho-silicate.-Ethyl silicate was prepared byreacting absolute ethyl alcohol with silicon tetrachloride and collecting the fraction which distilled at 165-168 C.

74.4 parts by weight of dodecyl alcohol and parts by weight of tetraethyl silicate were heated over night on a steam bath in a flask with a calcium chloride tube attached to prevent moisture from entering. The flask was then heated to remove volatile materials which distilled up to 170 C. The liquid was finally heated on a steam bath under water pump vacuum and g. of a light yellow liquid remained which analyzed 42% silicon, calculated 3.64%.

Coconut alcohol ortho-silicate.-Tetraethy silicate was prepared by reacting absilute ethyl alcohol with silicon tetrachloride and collecting 80 by weight of tetraethyl silicate were heated over night 'on asteam bath in a flask attached to a.-

calcium chloride drying tube to prevent the entrance of water. The flask was then heated to remove volatile materials which distilled up to 170 C. The liquid product was then heated on a steam bath and a light yellow liquid residue remained which was a mixture of the coconut alcohol ortho-silicates predominating in the dodecyl ester. The coconut alcohol was obtained by the carboxylic hydrogenation of coconut oil' and contained hexyl alcohol 4 parts. octyl alcohol 81 parts, decyl alcohol 60 parts, dodecyl alcohol 390 parts. tetradecyl alcohol 160 parts, cetyl alcohol parts, octadecyl alcohol 55 parts. eicosyl alcohol 15 parts. In place of this mixture of alcohols we may use a mixture of alcohols representing an intermediate fraction which. when converted to the ortho-silicate, is found particularly useful for plasticizing cellulose 1- trateccmpositions and is composed of decyl alcohol 3 parts, dodecyl alcohol 39 parts, tetradecyl alcohol 16 parts, cetyl alcohol 10 parts. octadecyl alcohol 3 parts.

Tridodecyl bcrate and tetradodecyl ortho-sillcate are liquids of low viscosity. soluble i: iretones, esters, and hydrocarbons, but insciuole in water. They have extremely low vapor pressure at ordinary temperatures. They may be used withflcellulose derivatives such as cellulose nitrate. ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate for the lormukfii r laequers gnd enamels. These esters aflord {convenient zoeans'oi introducing into and round to contain 3.9%, calculated 3.5%.

' listrate'two types of compositions in which these Solvent I g This composition, when dried at elevated temquer without the wax will air-dry in a few nitrocellulose lacquers ths el gmentsgotrhgg gggahd. silicon. The following examples are given to ilesters may be used. g 1

- Ethyloellulose 12 i Resin 8 'Iridodecyl borate o Paramn was perature, imparts a high degree of moistureproofness to articles coated therewith. The same lacminutestoziveatougnnexiblefllm.

Parts Cellulose nitrate 100 Tetradodecyl silicate This composition is adapted to the manufacture of plastic compositions. It may be prepared with or without the usual volatile solvents by the regular plastics process. It is to be understood 25 that other cellulose derivatives, other resins and oils or pigments may be added to or used in place of those given inthe above composition. It is also to be understood that any part of the plasticizer of the above composition may be replaced by 39 other plasticizers such as dibutyl phthalate, trlcresyl phosphate; dodecyl acid phthalate, or didecyl phthalate.

' c 'Iridodecylborate or tetradodecyl silicate are substantially/non 'volatile and have been found to be-satisfactory plasticizers not only for cellulose derivatives, buttonmatural and syntheti resi n s. Bince they are readily soluble in ordinary or anic solvents, they are readily miscible with other 4 materials commonly used as plasticizers.-

' i to be descriptive merely of a few modincations of is not restricted thereto.

the present invention. The individual components thereof and the conditions of reaction may I alcohols or alcohol derivatives. It is advisable that at least one of these alcohols should contain from 8 to 14 carbon atoms. The alcohols or mixtures thereof which are selected for this purpose may be chosen from one or more of the well known series of alcohols such as the aliphatic series, the naphthenic series, the aralkyl series and bydrocyclic series.

Most satisfactory results are, in general, obtained by selecting alcohols which are primarily from the aliphatic series, although the invention A few of the compounds which fall within this category are. for instance. 'octyl, decyl, dodecyl, and tetradecyl alcohols. In combination with one or more of these alcohols there may be used other alcohols, such as cetyl, octadecyl, oleyi, ricinoleyi, linoleyl. and hexwl alcohols. For optimum results it has been found that the selection of normal primary alcohols which contain from 8 to 14 carbon atoms is desirable. Where the alcohols are entirely, or in large part. compounds contaim-ig less than 8 or For example, the esteriiying radical may be obtained from a broad range of more than 14 carbon atoms the results are ordi narily considerably inferior thereto.

The alcohols previously mentioned which are preferred for use herein may be obtained from various sources. For example, by the sodium or catalytic reduction of coconut or palm kernel oils or acids, or other compounds of vegetable or animal origin. A mixture of alcohols is usually i superior to any individual alcohol. The most satlsfactory' results appear to be obtained by utilizing a mixture containing mainly octyl, decyl.

dodecyl and tetradecyl alcohols, said mixture pre- 'dominating in the dodecyl fraction.

i While normal primary alcohols are preferred it is contemplated, as heretofore mentioned, that other alcohols than those falling within such preferred class may be utilized, preferably in admixture with the aforementioned normal primary alcohols. A mixture comprising. normal primary alcohols and alcohols of the aralkyl and/or hydrocyclic series has been found to be satisfactory for somepurposes. Here again, the presence of appreciable portions of dodecyl alcohol and its near homologues results in an enhancement of the value of the resulting products.

In esterifying mixtures of alcohols with boric and/or silicic acid it is quite probable that the resulting esters vary comiderably' in their chemi cal structure, some of them containing esterifying radicals'which are entirely dissimilar whereas others may contain two or more esterifying radicals which are the same. Likewise, it is contemplated that the boric and/or silicic acid may not be completely esterified. In the event the resuiting esters are not completely esterifled they may be used as such or may be neutralized with salt-forming compounds such as oxides and hy-:

Esterification may be accomplished in accord ance with different esterification reactions. amples of a few of such reactions are:

(1) Reaction of the alcohol or alcohol mix ture with silicon tetrachloride under anhydrous conditions, for example, decyl alcohol and silicon tetrachloride.

(2) Reaction of a high molecular weight alcohol or mixture of such alcohols with a volatile ester of silicic or boric acid, for example, tetradecyl alcohol, with ethyl silicate.

(3) Reaction of an alcohol or alcohol mixture thereof with boric acid, boric anhydrlde or boron trichlor' "e, for example, octyl alcohol with boron trichloride.

wherein x represents boron or silicon; R represents octyl, decyl, undecyl, undecylenyl, dodecyl, :riclecyl, tetradecyi. pentadecyl; R" repsenis hydrogen, methyl, isobutyl. octyl. dxyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tctradecyl, cetyl, oleyl, myricyl I or the hydrocarbon radicals of a mixture of al cohois, or radicals such as phenyl, benzyl, naphthenyl, abietyl, linolcyl, ricinoleyl, eleostearyl, sodium, potassium, ammonium. aniline. diethyl amino-. triethanol amino-, 5% Cu, V Fe. 56 Al,

I 5 Ca, cyclohexylamine, dlalkyl cycloheawlamine,

pyridine, piperidine, etc.; :1 represents 1, 2, 3 or 4: 2) represents 0, 1, 2 or 3: and them .0! n+1) .is 3 where X is'boron and 4 wherexir silicon.

Additional esters contemplated herein are those J 'derived irom meta silicic acid such as dodecyl' 5 meta silicate, disilicic acid. such as dodecyi disilicate, trisillcic acid such as dodecyl trisilicate.

meta boric acid such as dodecyl meta borate. tetraboric acid such as dodecyl tetraborate.

The compounds comprised herein are suitable for use in numerous processes. 'For example,

' neutral borates anisllicates are quite valuable for plasticizing natural and synthetic resins and in particular cellulose derit'atives such as cellulose nitrate, ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate. Borates and silicates derived from a mixture of alcohols containing from 8 to 14 carbon atoms and predominating in dodecyl alcohol are especially suited for this purpose since they are suiflciently non-volatile to remain in the plastic or coating composition for extended periods of time.

The plasticizing value of these compounds is, further enhanced by their tendency to reduce the infiarnmability of I the material to be plasticized. For instanceatetradodecyl-silicate or tri- 1 /alkyl-dodecyl silicates ingen'ef'ral appreciablyitf duce the tendency of nitrb'celluldse tocignitef 'In. this connection it might be stated that where alkyl radicals of very high molecular weight are selected, such as in the case of tetracet'yl silicate, the lire retarding properties of the compound, are considerably decreased. probably due to the decrease in silicon content. Tetraalkyl silicates derived from mixtures of alcohols previously referred to as preferable are ordinarily superior to pure tetradodecyl silicate since they do not exude from nitrocellulose and other plastics as readily as the pure silicates. Dodecyl borates and borates corresponding to the aforementioned silicates are quite useful for the same purposes either alone, in admixture with the silicates'and/or in admixture with prior art plas-' ticizers. i 1

Acid esters of the described borates and silicates are of considerable value when'added to high pressure lubricating oils. They arealso of value in treating metals. Metal salts, and in particular alkali. metal salts, of these borates and silicates are quite satisfactory for use as dispersing agents generally. A low additional uses of the various classes of compounds described herein are as ingredients of polishes, soaps, coatin; compositions for stone. etc.

As many apparently widely diflerent embodi ments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereoi except as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Esters having the following general for mula:

- (R0) r-X wherein X represents boron or silicon and R rep 2. Esters having mulaz the tollowing general 1c:-

hydrogen or a hydrocarbon radical, :1 represent:

1, 2, tier 4, b represents 0. 1, 2 or 3, and a-i-b represents the valence of X. iollowing general'tor 3. Esters having the (Ron-x resents the residue of the compound consisting of a plurality o! dissimilar hydrocarbon radicals at least one 01 which radicals is aliphatic and contains from 8 to 14 carbon atoms, and a represents the valence of X.

4. A mixture of esters having the following general formula:

wherein X represents boron or silicon and R represents the residue of the compound consisting 01 a plurality of radicals of aliphatic alcohols, obtainable by the carboxyl reduction of coconut oil, at least one oi said alcohols containing from 8 to 14 carbon atoms, and a represents the valence o! X.

5 Esters having the following general tormula:

(R0) PX wherein X represents boron or nlicon and R represents the residue of the compound consisting of a plurality of aliphatic radicals one of which radicals is derived from dodecyl alcohol, and n represents the valence of X.

6. Esters having the Iollowing general formula; (R0) 4-51 wherein R represents the residue of the compound consisting of a plurality of hydrocarbon radicals at least one of which radicals is aliphatic and contains from 8 to 14 carbon atoms.

7. Esters having the following general formula:

. (ROM-Si wherein R represents the residue of the compound consisting of a plurality of aliphatic radicals substantially all of which radicals contain from 8 to 14 carbon atoms.

8. Esters having the following general formula:

wherein R represents the residue of the com. pound consisting of a plurality of hydrocarbon radicals at least one of which radicals is allphatic and contains from 8 to 14 carbon atoms. 12. Esters having the following general ior-' mule:

wherein x represents boron or siiicon and R repwherein R reprmenis the residue c! the compound consisting of a plurality of aliphatic radicals substantlally'all of which radicals contain from 8 to 14 carbon atoms.

l3.'Estera having the following-general fori mula:-.

- (ROM-B wherein R. represents the residue of the com-l pound consisting of a plurality'of aliphatic radicals one of which radicals is derived from dodecyl alcohol;

l4. Diallryl dodecyl borates. l5. Tridodecyl borate. 16. A process for the manufacture of neutral 5 -long chain silicates and borates which comprises reacting silicic and boric acid esters of alcohols boiling below 200' C. with an alcohol which contains from 8 to 14 carbon atoms.

17. A process for the manufacture of neutral long chain silicates and borates which comprises reacting silicic and boric acid esters of alcohols boiling below 200 C. with a mixture of higher fatty alcohols said mixture predominating in 1 dodecyl alcohol.

18. A process for the manufacture of borates and silicates which comprises reacting a plurality of alcohols, at least one of which contains from 8 to 14 carbon atoms, with a compound having the following general formula: V

a0 (Ron-X wherein x represents boron or silicon, R. represents the radical of a volatile alcohol boiling below 200 C., and n represents the valence of X.

19. A process for the manufacture of borates and silicates which comprises reacting a plurality of alcohols, at least one of which is aliphatic and contains from 8 to 14 carbon atoms, with a com a pound having the following general formula:

wherein X represents boron or silicon, R represents the radical of a volatile alcohol boiling below 200 C., and it represents the valence of X.

, 20. A process for the manufacture of borates and silicates which comprises reacting a plurality of aliphatic alcohols, at leastv one of which contalns from 8 to 14 carbon atoms, with a compound having the following general formula:

5o (Ron-x whereinv x represents boron or silicon, R repre- O sents the radical of a volatile alcohol boiling below 200' 0., and a represents the valence of X. 21. A process for the manufacture of bore-tea and silicates which comprises reacting a plurality of aliphatic alcohols, at least one of which poundhaving the following general formula:

wherein x represents boron or silicon'and'a represents the valence of X.

j .22. A process for the manufacture of borates and silicates which comprises reacting a mixture of cocoanut oil alcohols, substantially all of which contain from 8 to 14 carbon atoms, with a compound having the following general formula:

(CaHsO) a-X wherein X represents boron or silicon and a represents the valence of X.

23. A process for the manufacture of boratea and silicates which comprises esteriiying by heating under substantially anhydrous conditions a mixture of cocoanut oil alcohols, substantially all of which contain from 8 to 14 carbon atoms, with a compound having the following general formula: (CzHsOh-X wherein X represents boron or silicon and a represents the valence of X.

24. A process for the manufacture of silicates which comprises esterifying by heating under substantially anhydrous conditions a mixture of cocoanut oil alcohols, substantially all of which contain from 8 to 14 carbon atoms, with tetraethyl silicate.

25. The process of claim 24 wherein the mixture of alcohols predominates in dodecyl alcohol.

26. A process for the manufacture, of borates which comprises esterii'ying by heating under substantially anhydrous conditions a mixture of contains from 8 to 14 carbon atoms, with a comcocoanut oil alcohols, substantially all of whichcontain from 8 to 14 carbon atoms, with trlethyh borate.

27. Theprocess of claim 26 wherein the mixture of alcohols predominates in dodecyl alcohol.

GEORGE nnwrrr GRAVES.

a. JAMES HERBERT (canon-x 1o 

